Copperneck goat

Breeding male Copperneck goat, with characteristic imposing horns (Philippe Ammann / ProSpecieRara)

Origin and development

The Copperneck goat originated in the Valais region, together with the other three Valais goat breeds – Blackneck, Grüenochte Geiss and Sempione. This breed was increasingly neglected following the 1938 review of goat breeds. However, animals of this type – with copper-coloured forequarters and white hindquarters – repeatedly cropped up in stocks of Blackneck goats. In 2006, interest in this breed revived, and 28 Copperneck goats were identified in the Bernese Oberland and Valais regions. These served as the basis for an ambitious rescue project, with strict controls on inbreeding.

Description

The Copperneck goat – like all the other Valais goat breeds – has a slender build, long hair and strong horns. As the rescue project is focusing on the old type, the breed standard specifies a somewhat shorter and thus more manageable coat. This is beneficial for extensive (alpine) farming or in grazing projects, where the animals are less likely to become entangled in scrub. Also in accordance with historical images and in an effort to maintain old traits, the breeders envisage an ideal animal where – in contrast to Blackneck goats – the dividing line between the different colours is somewhat nearer the front of the body.

Kids displaying different variants of the Copperneck colour gene (Philippe Ammann / ProSpecieRara)

Breeding objectives

h Rescuing a critically endangered coat colour variant, with the colour changing towards the neck h Coat hair not too long (at least 20 cm ground clearance) h Good fattening capacity h Large, robust animals

References

ProSpecieRara (www.prospecierara.ch) Züchterverein der Capra Sempione, Kupferhalsziege und Grüenochte Geiss (www.zckg.ch)